Remembering Yesterday, Caring Today Training, 2012 - 2014

Welcome to the RYCTT area of the websitewhere information about the latest 2012-2014 project can be viewed. Click a flag in the left column to find out about the RYCTT Reminiscence in Dementia Care programme that took place in each country, and read the content below to find out more about this project:

The European Reminiscence Network was funded under the EC Grundtvig Lifelong Learning Programme to continue and develop the work we had begun in 2010-12 under the title “Remembering Together: Reminiscence Training” (visit the RTRT project area of this website to view our previous project).

As a partnership, we developed a cross-Europe training and accreditation programme so that we could spread the work in our own countries and ensure that there would be competent group facilitators to lead it in the future.

European Partners in the RYCTT project

Eight partners were funded for the RYCTT project, but all the original 11 partners managed to attend our project meetings and participate to some extent in our common programme. All have continued their commitment to creative reminiscence work and to reminiscence training.

The 2-day training course in Reminiscence in Dementia Care

The Apprenticeships

At least half of those who trained on our 2-day courses went on to become apprentices. They were attached to a group of family carers and people with dementia, meeting weekly over a ten-week period.

Led by experienced group leaders in each country, these reminiscence groups followed a common set of themes, using a variety of creative approaches to help participants find and share life-stories.

Apprentices had the chance to observe sessions, to contribute to them and eventually to lead them. They got to know the families and gained the confidence they needed to resource and run inclusive enjoyable reminiscence afternoons themselves.

They then reflected on their own learning in written essays before becoming accredited facilitators. Some of their essays have been included in the UK pages of the site - View essays.

Conclusion

This was a much more complicated project to run than the ‘Remembering Together’ project which preceded it. It involved finding families who would commit to series of 10 or more sessions, a venue in which to meet, plus all the necessary resources. In addition, we had to provide experienced group leaders to run the sessions and provide a model of good practice for the apprentices.

However those who completed the scheme showed a high level of commitment and took the course and apprenticeship very seriously. The challenge now is to help them all to find outlets for their new skills and to go on developing the scheme in partner countries and beyond. For this we are seeking new funding

The 2-day training programme

The trainees were drawn from many different fields and disciplines, including dementia care, oral history, community development and the arts.

The huge growth of interest on the part of artists across Europe in engaging with people with dementia has ensured a high take-up of the 2-day course in all partner countries, and many of those attending have gone on to introduce reminiscence approaches into their existing work with people with dementia.

2018 Training Course and Apprenticeship scheme

The ERN are pleased to announce a new 2018 Training Course & Apprenticeship Scheme in Reminiscence Arts in Dementia Care.

Memory Grand Challenge: Exploring links between reminiscence in dementia care and oral history

A successful outcome after one of the training courses

People travelled huge distances to attend the courses. We have included below a piece from Christine Novy, who travelled from Canada to attend the course in the UK, and then flew to Poland to join our international meeting in Poznan.

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.This website reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.